This week, excitement has surged around the newly announced M4 MacBook Air, which is being hailed as the top choice for the average consumer. Why, you might ask? Apple’s latest offering combines the exceptional features of prior MacBook Air models with the advanced capabilities of the new M4 processor, all for an attractive price of $999.

However, it’s worth noting that the M4 chip itself isn’t entirely fresh on the scene. Initially introduced alongside the iPad Pro last May, it was subsequently incorporated into the MacBook Pro lineup in October. Until recently, Apple positioned the MacBook Air as representative of the previous generation—if you were in the market for an entry-level Mac, you could either opt for the M2 MacBook Air at $999 or spend a bit more for the M3 version. The M4 chip, previously reserved for the Pro range, seemed out of reach.

Understanding M4 Variants

That has changed now: purchasing either a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro guarantees you’ll receive the M4 chip. Though the hardware is nearly indistinguishable in both laptops, there’s a slight catch. Each includes a System on Chip (SoC) featuring a 10-core CPU, comprising four performance cores and six efficiency cores, along with a 16-core Neural Engine. However, the Pro model sports a 10-core GPU, while the entry-level MacBook Air comes equipped with an eight-core GPU at the same base price. An upgrade to the 10-core GPU on the Air comes at an additional expense of $100.

This minor discrepancy hints at a potential for superior performance from the M4 MacBook Pro, especially for graphics-heavy applications such as animation, 4K video editing, or gaming. Nevertheless, technical specifications don’t always translate to noticeable differences in everyday tasks. Real-world performance evaluations will ultimately shed light on how significant—or minimal—these variations are.

While genuine comparisons wait for the M4 MacBook Air to hit the market, early indications are already surfacing. According to benchmarks reported by Wccftech, results have been shared online detailing the M4 MacBook Air’s performance using the Geekbench Metal benchmarks. Notably, the eight-core variant achieved a score of 54,864, while the 10-core Pro version reached 57,788. This represents a modest 5% performance enhancement for the Pro—an appealing upgrade, yet not as pronounced as one might expect for the extra two GPU cores, particularly given that the Pro begins at $1,599.